JAGUAR Land Rover (JLR) is readying an expansion of dealer network facilities, with eight dealers currently building new or upgraded premises and 10 more planning work this year amidst rocketing sales.

Nine of the 18 dealers will be new to the JLR marque and many will bring the brand back to regional areas. By the end of 2017, Australia will have 43 JLR dealers.

JLR Australia managing director Matthew Wiesner said more than $120 million will be committed across its retail network in the next 12 months to meet increased customer demand.

“With Jaguar up 175 per cent year-to-date and Land Rover up over 43 per cent, it has never been more important to ensure that there are strong levels of investment across all of our JLR retailer facilities,” he said.

Jaguar will also see a potential sales boost with the introduction of the F-Pace mid-size luxury SUV in July said Mr. Wiesner.

The retail investment will include seven new or upgraded facilities in New South Wales, eight in Queensland, two in Victoria and one in South Australia.

Many regional locations which will see a return of the JLR brand for the first time in over a decade include Rockhampton, Gosford, Wagga Wagga, Shepparton, Bendigo and Bunbury.

JLR this year added a $10 million dealership, Frizelle Group’s Springwood Jaguar Land Rover in South Brisbane, to its portfolio and was the first Australian dealer to use the new “JLR Arch” corporate identity.

By Neil Dowling